Soccer

Cork City strike at the death to make it six wins in a row

Kenny Browne scores in injury time as Leesiders come from behind against Derry

Kenny Browne leaps to score Cork City’s sinner against Derry. Photograph: Inpho
Fri May 13 2016 - 22:09

Cork City 2 Derry City 1

A grandstand finish from Cork City, with goals from Danny Morrissey and Kenny Browne, denied Derry victory at Turner’s Cross .

Niclas Vemmelund’s goal for Derry ten minutes into the second half had looked to be the difference, but the home side refused to give up. Substitute Morrissey equalised when he managed to get down to divert Greg Bolger’s free kick home with his head in the 86th minute and then the winner - securing a sixth league win in a row - arrived in injury time.

Bolger provided the assist again, swinging over a corner from the left, with centre-back Browne rising highest to divert the ball home, sparking riotous celebrations.

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The Candystripes went into this game as the only side to have beaten the Rebel Army in national competition this season - at the Brandywell in the league and in Cork in the EA Sports Cup two weeks ago - and they were set to complete the trinity when Vemmelund slid in unmarked to convert from Barry McNamee’s corner.

The goal was one of the few chances the visitors had but excellent defending, exemplified by captain Ryan McBride, frustrated the home efforts until the dramatic denouement.

The hosts began well, with Gavan Holohan going close while Karl Sheppard should have done better after Steven Beattie set him up. Midway through the half, Sheppard stayed onside to gather a Kenny Browne ball over the top but his low, fizzing cross was just ahead of the sliding Seán Maguire. Then, Beattie almost played Sheppard in but McBride made a great block.

In a portent of things to come, Vemmelund had Derry’s best chance of the opening half, getting a touch on Barry McNamee’s ball in after a short corner on 35, but Mark McNulty made a great save to deny him.

Within a minute of the start of the second half, Sheppard shot across goal and wide while after Vemmelund’s goal it took another heroic McBride challenge to deny Maguire.

Cork threw on Morrissey, Stephen Dooley and Mark O’Sullivan as they chased the game. Maguire had a great chance of an equaliser, wide with a free header, but there was still time and they made the most of it.

Cork City: McNulty; Dunleavy, Bennett, Browne, O'Connor; Buckley, Bolger; Beattie (D Morrissey 65), Holohan (O'Sullivan 72), Sheppard (Dooley 56); Maguire.

Derry City: Doherty; Vemmelund, McBride, Barry, Jarvis; McCormack, McEneff; Ward (McDermott 80), McNamee (Boyle 90), Curtis (Daniels 80); Patterson.

Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).

Attendance: 2,856.